Milk can opener and container having two lids and adjustable stop means limiting the opening of the lids



arch 28, I950 2,501,653

J. K. BOAK MILK CAN OPENER AND CONTAINER HAVING TWO LIDS AND ADJUSTABLE STOP MEANS LIMITING THE OPENING OF THE LIDS Filed March 23, I945 j I Inventor $012900 flea fig 304%,

Attorneys Patented Mar. 28, 1950 MILK CAN OPENER AND" CONTAINER HAVING 'EWG LIBS AND ADJUSTABLE STOP'MEANS LIMITING THE OPENING OF THE LIDS Jackson Keating Beak, Camden, Tenn.

Application March 23, 1945, Serial No. 584,349

- 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a milk can opener and container, and more particularly to such a device adapted for use with condensed milk cans of conventional size.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an-improved device adapted to serve as a container for such cans, provided with a handle to facilitate pouring therefrom, and having integral means in association therewith for opening the can when the same is positioned within the container.

A further object of the invention is the provision of .such a device provided with a double lid wherein the can may be retained securely in the container, and. whereby the upper lid maybe opened to facilitate the pouring of the contents of the can, as desired.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of means in association with the lower lid for perforating the can to permit access to the contents thereof, and means in association with the upper lid for closingsuch perforations when the upper lid is closed. An additional and more specific object of the invention is the provision of spring means biasing the upper lid into normally closed position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of means operable by said spring means to close the container, pivotally mounted on the upper lid, in such manner that the same may be readily rotated out of the way to permit the insertion of a fresh can in the container when desired.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of such a device which will be sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and eflicient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds, and shown in the accompanied drawing, wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view, partially in elevation and partially in section, showing a preferred form of this invention,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure l, the lids being shown in closed position, and certain portions of the mechanism shown in difi'erent positions of adjustment by dotted lines, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 of Figure 2, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now particularly to Figure ;1, there is generally indicated; at M a cylindrical container ofa dimension adapted to hold a conventional size condensed milk can. The base-0f the container is open, and provided with-a flange H, upon which the lowerextrem-ity of the can is adapted to rest, and an outwardly flared supporting portion IE, to enhance the appearance of the article. A handle I3 is secured to the container H) in any desired manner. A can l4 provided with an imperforate lid I5 is adapted to be positioned within the container. A double hinge I 6 is provided ata suitable point on the container, and, hasmounted for swinging thereon an inner lid I! and an outer lid or cover IS. A spring, catch [9 adapted to engage a suitable projection 20 on the wall of the container 10 is secured to the inner lid H and serves to hold the same normallyin closed position. The inner lid 11 is provided with a. pair of spaced tubular projections 2!, each provided with a beveled cutting edge 22,. adapted, to perforate spaced apertures in the can lid 15, one serving as a pouring aperture, and the other as an air inlet. Sealing gaskets 23 are positioned about each of the tubes 2|.

The upper lid I8 is provided with projecting portions 25, spaced to register with the upper extremities of the tube 21, and serve as closure members therefor when the upper lid is in closed position.

The outer cover I 8 is provided with a thumb lift member 27, for swinging the lid open around pivot Hi. This thumb lift is pivotally secured to the lid l8, as on a pivot 23, at a point adjacent the hinge H5. As best shown in Figure l, the thumb lift portion 2'! is arcuate in configuration, and extends upwardly to a point above the extremity of the handle I3. A leaf spring 29 has one end secured to the container, as by means of a rivet 30, which may also comprise the securing means for one end of the handle l3, and abuts, with its free end, the underside of the thumb lift portion 2! in such manner as to bias the lid "3 in normally closed position.

From the foregoing, th operation of the device should now be readily understandable. When it is desired to insert a can of condensed milk, or the like, in the container, the thumb lift member 27 is rotated sideways about the pivot 28 in such manner as to permit the complete raising of both lids i8 and l! around hinge l 6. A can is then inserted in the container until its base rests on the flange l l. Th lower lid I7 is then closed, and pressure exerted thereon to force the tubular members 2| to perforate the lid l5 of the can to form suitable pouring and ventilating apertures. At the termination of this operation, the spring catch 20 securely holds the inner lid l! in position. The spring 29, biasing the upper lid I8 to closed position, serves normally to protect the contents of the can. When it is desired to pour the contents of the can, it is simply necessary to depress the thumb lift 21, thus opening the upper lid l8, pour the contents or any desired quantity thereof from the can, and release the thumb lift, whereupon the spring 29 re-closes the dev1ce.

From the foregoing, it will now b seen that there" is herein provided a device accomplishing all of the objects of this invention, and others including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as man modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Iclaim:

l. A container for canned articles comprising an inner lid, an outer lid, a common hinge for swingingly securing both of said lids to the container, tubular can perforating members carried in sealing gaskets by said inner lid, closiu'e members carried by said outer lid for closing said tubular members when the lids are simultaneously closed, a spring catch holding said inner lid in closed position independent of the outer lid and mounted on the container at the edge of th inner lid opposite to said hinge, a spring biased thumb lift on said outer lid adjacent said hinge for opening said outer lid, a handle on said container normally beneath said lift and comprising a stop for said lift and normally limiting the opening of the upper lid, said lift being pivotally secured to said outer lid to allow 4 shifting of the lift laterally of and out of engagement with said handle to permit insertion and removal of cans from said container.

2. A receptacle for removably receiving a can of milk comprising a vertically disposed cylindrical container, spring :biased inner and outer lids hinged to said container, for movement about a single horizontal axis, means to puncture the top of a can secured to said inner lid, a lift pivoted on said outer lid for movement about a vertical axis, a stop on the container, said lift being depressible against said stop to own said outer lid for pouring when the lift is in one position and depressible to a greater extent when pivoted about said vertical axis into a second position to allow opening of both lids so that a can may be inserted into and removed from said container.

3. A receptacle according to claim 2 and wherein said stop comprises a handle on the container.

4. A receptacle according to claim 3 and wherein said inner lid has releasable lock means for normally holding said inner lid in closed position.

JACKSON KEATING BOAK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 489,923 Boulter Jan. 17, 1893 592,012 Lewis Oct. 19, 1897 654,795 Kidder July 31, 1900 979,072 Javins Dec. 20, 1910 1,060,258 Javins Apr. 29, 1913 1,295,425 Brown Feb. 25, 1919 1,475,903 Urtasun Nov. 27, 1923 1,526,342 Jones Feb. 17, 1925 1,745,456 Shuler Feb. 4, 1930 2,040,087 Hackl May 12, 1936 2,249,918 Sprout July 22, 1941 

